Kingdom of Ash

glanced to the open doors. Then to where Lord
Darrow stood beside the empty throne.
Not an official throne—just a larger, finer
chair that had been selected from the sad lot
of candidates.
Darrow, too, stared toward the open doors,
face impassive. Yet his eyes glowed.
The trumpets rang out.
A four-note summons. Repeated three
times.
Pews groaned as everyone twisted to the
doors.
Behind the dais, hidden beyond a painted
wooden screen, a small group of musicians
began playing a processional. Not the grand,
sprawling orchestra that might accompany an
event of this magnitude, but better than
nothing.
It didn’t matter anyway.
Not as Elide appeared in a lilac gown, a